CA2217274A1 - Toric surfacecasting - Google Patents
Toric surfacecasting Download PDFInfo
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- CA2217274A1 CA2217274A1 CA002217274A CA2217274A CA2217274A1 CA 2217274 A1 CA2217274 A1 CA 2217274A1 CA 002217274 A CA002217274 A CA 002217274A CA 2217274 A CA2217274 A CA 2217274A CA 2217274 A1 CA2217274 A1 CA 2217274A1
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- optical preform
- toric
- preform
- astigmatic
- lens
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/02—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
- G02C7/06—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses bifocal; multifocal ; progressive
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Eyeglasses (AREA)
- Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
- Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
Abstract
.
An optical preform has a predetermined spherical curve on a concave surface of the optical preform a predetermined spherical curve on a convex surface of the optical preform and a near add power. A thin resin is applied to the concave surface of the optical preform and molded to form a toric layer by a mold having a toric convex mold surface. The resin layer is then cured and the mold removed to form a finished ophthalmic lens.
An optical preform has a predetermined spherical curve on a concave surface of the optical preform a predetermined spherical curve on a convex surface of the optical preform and a near add power. A thin resin is applied to the concave surface of the optical preform and molded to form a toric layer by a mold having a toric convex mold surface. The resin layer is then cured and the mold removed to form a finished ophthalmic lens.
Description
b CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 TORIC SURFACECASTING
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to ophthc,l,llic lenses and more particularly to a method of forming a toric layer on the concave side of a p~fo",~.
5 Backqround of the Invention The manufacturing methods and distribution channels related to the manufacture of eyeglass lenses have not changed d,d",alically over the last 150 years. While there have been recent dll~ pts to introduce more ~ffi~;enl methods of manufacturing eye glass lenses such as la",;naled wafer front side 10 convex SurfaoeCasting and fast cure whole lens casting tecl ,nc'~aY for the most part the traditional manufacturing methods have not changed. Lens manufacturers continue casting semi-finished blanks made of homogenous materials which are thlen sold to lens surfacing laboratories who customize the needed presaiption by grinding and polisl,il g these semi-rinished blanks into optical lenses. The optical lenses are then sold to the retail optical dispenserwho resell them to consumers.
This manufacturing method and the channels of distribution to support this traditional "~U lod are well established throughout the world. However thismethod limits technological possibilities in terms of lens types and lens materials. Furthermore the surfacing and polishing equipment space requirements and skilled labor needed to custo",i~e the semi~inisl ,ed blanks are very expensive. Also for the end customer who purchases and wears the eye gl~csesl the multi-layered distribution channel approach is inefficient and costly.
CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 As stated above, there have been a number of attempts to bring technological advances into the optical industry in an effort to streamline manufacturing methods and distribution channels. With each new approach there is an attempt to balance ease of use, system entry price, finished lens 5 cost, system size, optical quality and consumer demands. For example, la" ,ina~ing wafer technology is very user friendly and has a low entry equipment price, but produces lenses that are thicker than lenses produced using traditional manufacturing methods. Modified surfacing technology is simply an extension of the traditional manufacturing methods and requires grinding and 10 polishing a partially pre-surfaced semi-finished blank.
Fast cure whole lens casting cuts oùt many steps in the traditional pr~ess of surfacing and polishing by quickly curing the entire thickness of the finished lens with W radiation and forming it into the final prescription needed.
However, in order to accomplish this, hu,)dleds of molds and gaskets are needed for each material having a difrerent index of refraction. Thus, this ap~-oach is neither user friendly nor easily a~, dabl2. The required molds are expensive and represent the largest portion of the capital expense making up the selling prioe of the system. Currently, these systems sell for about $30,000to $40,000.
One successful manufacturing method uses a front concave multifocal mold and casts a photocurable resin layer onto the convex surface of a plastic optical preform which has the patient's distanoe prescription. This approach significantly reduces the number of molds needed from that of the fast cure whole lens casting process and eliminates the need for gaskets. The result is a system that is far less expensive to purchase bec~use the number of required molds is significantly reduoed and no gaskets are required. However, even with this approach, in order to cover a range of pres~ iption from +5.50D to ~.OOD, up to -2.00D cylinder, and up to +3.00D add power molds are required. These systems usually sell for about $15,000 to $20,000 be~use of the material costs 3 o associated with the number of expensive molds.
In the commercial setting, SurfaoeCasting has only been commercialized using a front convex layer approach because, without the knowledge of the invention of fabricating predetermined spherical curves on the concave surface of the preform while specifically varying the front convex curve of the preform,the number of possible sphero toric and spherical molds needed to SurfaceCast the back concave surface of the preform could increase the material costs to such an extent that the commercial viability of the process would be questionable. And f~" U,e""ore, the user friendliness of such a system would be compromised. Also, any effon to reduce the large number of molds needed 10 could result in a significant mismatch of surface curvatures, thus necessitaling the use of large numbers of different gaskets. For example, Stoerr (U.S. Patent No. 5,288,221 ) (hereinafter ~Stoerra) disclosed the use of gaskets and equipment to cast on the back concave surfaoe rather than using the numerous molds which would typically be required without knowledge of the invention described herein. Stoerr utilized a piece of equipment that separaled and aligned the prefo"" and the mold to solve the commercial limiting factor caused by the number of molds needed. Although feasible, the Illetilod disclosed by Stoerr adds another level of expense and complexity by way of the equipment needed and reduoes the user friendliness of the prooess.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide an altemative manufacturing method that would minimize the number of molds needed. This would reduoe the entry capital costs while maintaining the optical quality of the final product, produce high yields and provide a user friendly system.
Summar~ of the Invention A lens product according to the present invention includes an optical prefor", having a distance spherical power and a near add power. A toric layer is attached to the concave surface of the optical prefo"". The lens product is made by providing an optical preform having a concave back surface of a predesigned specific sph~ical curvature to produoe a distance spherical power.
CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 In addition, the optical preform has a near add power. A photocurable resin is then cast on the concave surface of the optical preform and molded and shaped to form a toric layer, thereby providing the astigmatic correction for a given prescription. The resin is then cured to form a finished lens product. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, both a toric and at least a part of a spherical distance power are added to the concave surface of the preform.
By casting only the toric layer for the correction of astigmatism onto the concave surface of an optical preform which contains the approp, iale distance spherical power, the required number of molds can be reduced significantly.
10 Furthermore, since the back toric molds are relatively inexpensive when compared to the front multifocal molds typically used with systems which cast a resin layer on the front convex surface of a prefoi",ed optic, additional cost reductions can be re~ ed. In current co"""e,cial systems that use front convex casting which cast p~ower ranges of spheres of +5.50D to ~.OOD, cylinder up to 15 -2.00D and add powers up to a +3.00D, all in .25D steps, 72 front multifocal molds are needed for each multHocal design to cover 4 base curves. Therefore, a total of 144 molds would be needed for 2 desiyl ,s such as a flat top bifocal and a progressive addition lens. A third multifocal design would increase this totalby an additional 72 molds. In contrast, since the presen~ invention uses an 20 optical preform with predetermined specific spherical concave curves, the number of molds can be reduced from 144 to as few as 3~, and the use of additional multifocal designs does not increase the number of required molds.
Fu,~he""ore, the cost to produce a toric mold is significantly less than the cost to produce a front progressive addition mold.
25 Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs FIG. 1 is a cross section of plt:follll having an added toric layer according to a prefer,ed embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a uoss section of a toric mold.
FIG. 3 is a view of the toric surface of a toric mold.
FIG. 4 is a cross section of an preform, resin and toric mold asse",bly.
FIG. 5 is a cross section of a preform and toric mold assembly.
Detailed Description of the Invention Currently SurfaceCasting has been co"""erciali ed by way of casting the front convex surface onto the convex spherical surface of a spherical or sphero toric preform. Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5178800) Blum (U.S. Patent No.
5 147 585) Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5 219 497) Gupta (U.S. Patent No.
5 470 892) Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5 358 672) Blum (U.S. Patent No.
5 316 702) Gupta (U.S. Patent No. 5 480 600) Gupta (U.S. Patent No.
5 531 940) Greshes (U.S. Patent No. 4 190621) and Greshes (U.S. Patent No.
0 4 474 355) describe and teach this process in detail and are incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in FIG. 1 a prefonn 10 has a predesiyned concave spherical curve 20 and the toric layer 30 is cast onto the predesigned concave spherical curve 20 of the preform 10. In addition the prefo"" 10 has a predesigned 15 convex spherical curve 40 on the front convex surface 50 of the prefoi ",10. As shown in FlGs. 2 and 3 the toric curve of the toric layer 30 is formed by a toric mold 60. This approach minimizes not only the number of required molds but also minimizes "~is"~atch of the mold toric surface 70 with the concave surface of the preform 10 at the appropriate axis orientation to correct for astigmatism.
20 For e~a, nplE using the method of the present invention the base curve 80 of the toric mold 60 is designed so the base curve 80 aligns within about ~0.12 diopterof the concave spl ,erical curve 20 of the pr~fo"~,10. The toric surface 90 of the toric mold 60 is ",isi"a~ched by the appropriate amount to create the desired toric power. During molding a gasket or sealing ring may be used. However 25 the use of a gasket or sealing ring may be unnecess~ry if capillary attraction prevents the resin from significantly escaping the region bounded by the toric mold 60 and the spherical preform surface 20.
In a preferred embodiment one to five different specific concave spherical surfaces 20 are fommed on prerc""s 10 with curvatures that are within _ .12D of the base curve 80 of the toric mold 60. The prefon,~s 10 have numerous predetermined front convex base curves 40 which when combined with the one to five back concave spherical curves 20 create all needed spherical pov~ers. In this preferred embodiment the front convex surface 40 of the preform 10 varies 48 times allowing for 48 different spherical distance powers of +5.50D to ~.OOD. And the convex surface 40 of the preforrn 10 will continue to vary every .25D for dislance spherical powers over +5.50D or over 10 ~.OOD.
In other embodiments over five specific concave spherical curves 20 are utilized. The number of variations of the front convex curve 40 of the prefoi", 10 is reduced by providing cliff~rent concave spl,~rieal curves 20 of the prefo,--.
10; thus allowing for fewer front prefor", convex curves 40.
Tnerefort: the invention will make it possible to commercialize casting the rear concave surface of a prefo"" easily and economically. Casting the rear concave surface of a preror", has significant direct and indirect benefits compared to the current ~"""ercial front convex casting process. These benefits not only include a lower entry prioe but also enhanoed ease of use and the ability of rabricaling bl ~ed product. For example using the method of the present invention it is possible to fabricate the prefo""s out of branded semi-finished lens blanks made by leading lens manufacturers.
As shown in FIG. 4 when forming a lens the weight of the mold 60 is floated on a thin layer of resin 100 that is cast on the concave surface 20 of the preform 10. In the altemate embodiment illuslraled in FIG. 5 a thin piece of tape 110 having a thickness of about 0.14.5 mm is placed on each of two edges of the mold 60 or prefo,i" 10 between the preform and the mold surface interfaoe thus creating separation between the preform 10 and the mold 60 in CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 order to allow for the minimal thickness to be added on the non toric component.When using this approach the tape 110 is placed at the interfaoe between the toric mold 60 and the p,eroi", 10 which cor~fu,,,,s to the spherical concave curve 20 of the prefGr", 10. The viscosity and density of the resin is adjusted so that the angular orientation of the toric axis of the mold with respect to the axis of the preform delineated by the tapes is maintained without further support. In all cases the viscosity and density of the resin are such that an adequate amount of resin is maintained between the prefo"" and the mold. In other embodiments an aligning ring is utilized to maintain proper deoentration as well as the proper 10 alignment of the interfaoe between the toric mold and the concave surface of the preform. In other further embodi",ents the thickness of the resin layer is maintained by a gasket-like housing which separates the mold and the prefor", by an appropriate amount. However it is possible to mold the resin layer without the use of a gasket. Also in addition to casting a resin on the concave surface of the preform the toric layer may be added as a partially polymerized layer which is initially attached to either the mold surface or the concave surfaoe of the preform.
The toric mold can have a smaller or larger diameter than the diameter of the preform or can be the same size as the prefo,....
It is also possible to decenter the preform 10 with respect to the mold 60 in order to allow for greater effective use of the lens blank without incurring an unAc~p~'~ amount of prism. When pe,roi",ing this step it is only neoessary to move the mold 60 on the resin 100 in such a way that the mold 60 and the ~ pre~o"" 10 maintain their natural horizontal alignment of curves while limiting 25 omllinillli~ng any significant change in this aligrl",enl with respect to thickness on one side or the other thus avoiding unwanted prism. This approach will allow for a single oentered front multifocal style to be used to produce a rightor left lens while simply moving the toric mold 60 horizontally to the right or left by the appropriate amount needed for the near point decentration of the multifocal zone.
Therefore it is possible to use the method of the present invention to cast the toric curves on the concave surface of the preform 10 and thereby correct the appropriate amount of astigmatism at the proper axis orientation for the patient s prescription needs. This can be done for single vision as well as multifocal lenses. Furthermore it is possible to decenter the toric mold 60 withrespect to a centered multifocal zone on the prefo"" 10 to achieve proper multifocal decen~,a~ion. Finally once the toric mold 60 is properly aligned withlO respect to the preform 10 for astigmatic axis orientation astigmatic power coi~tion and near point multifocal decent,ation the assembly containing the mold 60 resin 100 and prefo,lll 10 is cured by any appropriate means which will cure the resin layer 100 and bond the newly cured plastic toric layer 30 to the prefor", 10.
The following example illustrates the method of the present invention and various embodiments thereof.
EXAMPLE: A spherical multifocal prefor", 10 having a distance spherical power of +2.00D and a near add power of +2.00D is mounted concave side up in a tray equipped with a prolraclor. Liquid poly",eri able resin 100 is20 deposited on to the concave surface 20 of the lens p. eform 10. Two pieces offlexible metallized tape 110 (of thickness approximately 0.15 mm) are placed at opposite ends of a diameter of the toric mold 60 to be used each pieoe of tape 110 protruding about 1.00 mm on to the mold casting surface. The mold 60 has a toric surface 90 on the convex side a base curvature of 4.00D and 25 a toric curvature of 2.00D. The mold 60 with the two pieces of tape 110 attached is placed convex surfaoe down into the resin deposit 100 allowing the resin to spread out and fill the space between the mold 60 and the lens preform 10. The toric axis is set to 35 degrees with the help of the prot, actor. The mold assembly is placed in the photocuring oven, and subjected to both visible as well as ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of about 330-500 nm and a simultaneous temperature ramp which starts at about 1 00~F and ends at about 200~F over a period of approximately 16 minutes. The lens is demolded, and annealed by immersing it in water at about 200~F for approximately 2 minutes.
The power of the lens, as read on a lensometer at the optical center, was OS
+1.95D, -2.05D X35, Add 1 95D.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to ophthc,l,llic lenses and more particularly to a method of forming a toric layer on the concave side of a p~fo",~.
5 Backqround of the Invention The manufacturing methods and distribution channels related to the manufacture of eyeglass lenses have not changed d,d",alically over the last 150 years. While there have been recent dll~ pts to introduce more ~ffi~;enl methods of manufacturing eye glass lenses such as la",;naled wafer front side 10 convex SurfaoeCasting and fast cure whole lens casting tecl ,nc'~aY for the most part the traditional manufacturing methods have not changed. Lens manufacturers continue casting semi-finished blanks made of homogenous materials which are thlen sold to lens surfacing laboratories who customize the needed presaiption by grinding and polisl,il g these semi-rinished blanks into optical lenses. The optical lenses are then sold to the retail optical dispenserwho resell them to consumers.
This manufacturing method and the channels of distribution to support this traditional "~U lod are well established throughout the world. However thismethod limits technological possibilities in terms of lens types and lens materials. Furthermore the surfacing and polishing equipment space requirements and skilled labor needed to custo",i~e the semi~inisl ,ed blanks are very expensive. Also for the end customer who purchases and wears the eye gl~csesl the multi-layered distribution channel approach is inefficient and costly.
CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 As stated above, there have been a number of attempts to bring technological advances into the optical industry in an effort to streamline manufacturing methods and distribution channels. With each new approach there is an attempt to balance ease of use, system entry price, finished lens 5 cost, system size, optical quality and consumer demands. For example, la" ,ina~ing wafer technology is very user friendly and has a low entry equipment price, but produces lenses that are thicker than lenses produced using traditional manufacturing methods. Modified surfacing technology is simply an extension of the traditional manufacturing methods and requires grinding and 10 polishing a partially pre-surfaced semi-finished blank.
Fast cure whole lens casting cuts oùt many steps in the traditional pr~ess of surfacing and polishing by quickly curing the entire thickness of the finished lens with W radiation and forming it into the final prescription needed.
However, in order to accomplish this, hu,)dleds of molds and gaskets are needed for each material having a difrerent index of refraction. Thus, this ap~-oach is neither user friendly nor easily a~, dabl2. The required molds are expensive and represent the largest portion of the capital expense making up the selling prioe of the system. Currently, these systems sell for about $30,000to $40,000.
One successful manufacturing method uses a front concave multifocal mold and casts a photocurable resin layer onto the convex surface of a plastic optical preform which has the patient's distanoe prescription. This approach significantly reduces the number of molds needed from that of the fast cure whole lens casting process and eliminates the need for gaskets. The result is a system that is far less expensive to purchase bec~use the number of required molds is significantly reduoed and no gaskets are required. However, even with this approach, in order to cover a range of pres~ iption from +5.50D to ~.OOD, up to -2.00D cylinder, and up to +3.00D add power molds are required. These systems usually sell for about $15,000 to $20,000 be~use of the material costs 3 o associated with the number of expensive molds.
In the commercial setting, SurfaoeCasting has only been commercialized using a front convex layer approach because, without the knowledge of the invention of fabricating predetermined spherical curves on the concave surface of the preform while specifically varying the front convex curve of the preform,the number of possible sphero toric and spherical molds needed to SurfaceCast the back concave surface of the preform could increase the material costs to such an extent that the commercial viability of the process would be questionable. And f~" U,e""ore, the user friendliness of such a system would be compromised. Also, any effon to reduce the large number of molds needed 10 could result in a significant mismatch of surface curvatures, thus necessitaling the use of large numbers of different gaskets. For example, Stoerr (U.S. Patent No. 5,288,221 ) (hereinafter ~Stoerra) disclosed the use of gaskets and equipment to cast on the back concave surfaoe rather than using the numerous molds which would typically be required without knowledge of the invention described herein. Stoerr utilized a piece of equipment that separaled and aligned the prefo"" and the mold to solve the commercial limiting factor caused by the number of molds needed. Although feasible, the Illetilod disclosed by Stoerr adds another level of expense and complexity by way of the equipment needed and reduoes the user friendliness of the prooess.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide an altemative manufacturing method that would minimize the number of molds needed. This would reduoe the entry capital costs while maintaining the optical quality of the final product, produce high yields and provide a user friendly system.
Summar~ of the Invention A lens product according to the present invention includes an optical prefor", having a distance spherical power and a near add power. A toric layer is attached to the concave surface of the optical prefo"". The lens product is made by providing an optical preform having a concave back surface of a predesigned specific sph~ical curvature to produoe a distance spherical power.
CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 In addition, the optical preform has a near add power. A photocurable resin is then cast on the concave surface of the optical preform and molded and shaped to form a toric layer, thereby providing the astigmatic correction for a given prescription. The resin is then cured to form a finished lens product. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, both a toric and at least a part of a spherical distance power are added to the concave surface of the preform.
By casting only the toric layer for the correction of astigmatism onto the concave surface of an optical preform which contains the approp, iale distance spherical power, the required number of molds can be reduced significantly.
10 Furthermore, since the back toric molds are relatively inexpensive when compared to the front multifocal molds typically used with systems which cast a resin layer on the front convex surface of a prefoi",ed optic, additional cost reductions can be re~ ed. In current co"""e,cial systems that use front convex casting which cast p~ower ranges of spheres of +5.50D to ~.OOD, cylinder up to 15 -2.00D and add powers up to a +3.00D, all in .25D steps, 72 front multifocal molds are needed for each multHocal design to cover 4 base curves. Therefore, a total of 144 molds would be needed for 2 desiyl ,s such as a flat top bifocal and a progressive addition lens. A third multifocal design would increase this totalby an additional 72 molds. In contrast, since the presen~ invention uses an 20 optical preform with predetermined specific spherical concave curves, the number of molds can be reduced from 144 to as few as 3~, and the use of additional multifocal designs does not increase the number of required molds.
Fu,~he""ore, the cost to produce a toric mold is significantly less than the cost to produce a front progressive addition mold.
25 Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs FIG. 1 is a cross section of plt:follll having an added toric layer according to a prefer,ed embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a uoss section of a toric mold.
FIG. 3 is a view of the toric surface of a toric mold.
FIG. 4 is a cross section of an preform, resin and toric mold asse",bly.
FIG. 5 is a cross section of a preform and toric mold assembly.
Detailed Description of the Invention Currently SurfaceCasting has been co"""erciali ed by way of casting the front convex surface onto the convex spherical surface of a spherical or sphero toric preform. Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5178800) Blum (U.S. Patent No.
5 147 585) Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5 219 497) Gupta (U.S. Patent No.
5 470 892) Blum (U.S. Patent No. 5 358 672) Blum (U.S. Patent No.
5 316 702) Gupta (U.S. Patent No. 5 480 600) Gupta (U.S. Patent No.
5 531 940) Greshes (U.S. Patent No. 4 190621) and Greshes (U.S. Patent No.
0 4 474 355) describe and teach this process in detail and are incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in FIG. 1 a prefonn 10 has a predesiyned concave spherical curve 20 and the toric layer 30 is cast onto the predesigned concave spherical curve 20 of the preform 10. In addition the prefo"" 10 has a predesigned 15 convex spherical curve 40 on the front convex surface 50 of the prefoi ",10. As shown in FlGs. 2 and 3 the toric curve of the toric layer 30 is formed by a toric mold 60. This approach minimizes not only the number of required molds but also minimizes "~is"~atch of the mold toric surface 70 with the concave surface of the preform 10 at the appropriate axis orientation to correct for astigmatism.
20 For e~a, nplE using the method of the present invention the base curve 80 of the toric mold 60 is designed so the base curve 80 aligns within about ~0.12 diopterof the concave spl ,erical curve 20 of the pr~fo"~,10. The toric surface 90 of the toric mold 60 is ",isi"a~ched by the appropriate amount to create the desired toric power. During molding a gasket or sealing ring may be used. However 25 the use of a gasket or sealing ring may be unnecess~ry if capillary attraction prevents the resin from significantly escaping the region bounded by the toric mold 60 and the spherical preform surface 20.
In a preferred embodiment one to five different specific concave spherical surfaces 20 are fommed on prerc""s 10 with curvatures that are within _ .12D of the base curve 80 of the toric mold 60. The prefon,~s 10 have numerous predetermined front convex base curves 40 which when combined with the one to five back concave spherical curves 20 create all needed spherical pov~ers. In this preferred embodiment the front convex surface 40 of the preform 10 varies 48 times allowing for 48 different spherical distance powers of +5.50D to ~.OOD. And the convex surface 40 of the preforrn 10 will continue to vary every .25D for dislance spherical powers over +5.50D or over 10 ~.OOD.
In other embodiments over five specific concave spherical curves 20 are utilized. The number of variations of the front convex curve 40 of the prefoi", 10 is reduced by providing cliff~rent concave spl,~rieal curves 20 of the prefo,--.
10; thus allowing for fewer front prefor", convex curves 40.
Tnerefort: the invention will make it possible to commercialize casting the rear concave surface of a prefo"" easily and economically. Casting the rear concave surface of a preror", has significant direct and indirect benefits compared to the current ~"""ercial front convex casting process. These benefits not only include a lower entry prioe but also enhanoed ease of use and the ability of rabricaling bl ~ed product. For example using the method of the present invention it is possible to fabricate the prefo""s out of branded semi-finished lens blanks made by leading lens manufacturers.
As shown in FIG. 4 when forming a lens the weight of the mold 60 is floated on a thin layer of resin 100 that is cast on the concave surface 20 of the preform 10. In the altemate embodiment illuslraled in FIG. 5 a thin piece of tape 110 having a thickness of about 0.14.5 mm is placed on each of two edges of the mold 60 or prefo,i" 10 between the preform and the mold surface interfaoe thus creating separation between the preform 10 and the mold 60 in CA 022l7274 l997-lO-03 order to allow for the minimal thickness to be added on the non toric component.When using this approach the tape 110 is placed at the interfaoe between the toric mold 60 and the p,eroi", 10 which cor~fu,,,,s to the spherical concave curve 20 of the prefGr", 10. The viscosity and density of the resin is adjusted so that the angular orientation of the toric axis of the mold with respect to the axis of the preform delineated by the tapes is maintained without further support. In all cases the viscosity and density of the resin are such that an adequate amount of resin is maintained between the prefo"" and the mold. In other embodiments an aligning ring is utilized to maintain proper deoentration as well as the proper 10 alignment of the interfaoe between the toric mold and the concave surface of the preform. In other further embodi",ents the thickness of the resin layer is maintained by a gasket-like housing which separates the mold and the prefor", by an appropriate amount. However it is possible to mold the resin layer without the use of a gasket. Also in addition to casting a resin on the concave surface of the preform the toric layer may be added as a partially polymerized layer which is initially attached to either the mold surface or the concave surfaoe of the preform.
The toric mold can have a smaller or larger diameter than the diameter of the preform or can be the same size as the prefo,....
It is also possible to decenter the preform 10 with respect to the mold 60 in order to allow for greater effective use of the lens blank without incurring an unAc~p~'~ amount of prism. When pe,roi",ing this step it is only neoessary to move the mold 60 on the resin 100 in such a way that the mold 60 and the ~ pre~o"" 10 maintain their natural horizontal alignment of curves while limiting 25 omllinillli~ng any significant change in this aligrl",enl with respect to thickness on one side or the other thus avoiding unwanted prism. This approach will allow for a single oentered front multifocal style to be used to produce a rightor left lens while simply moving the toric mold 60 horizontally to the right or left by the appropriate amount needed for the near point decentration of the multifocal zone.
Therefore it is possible to use the method of the present invention to cast the toric curves on the concave surface of the preform 10 and thereby correct the appropriate amount of astigmatism at the proper axis orientation for the patient s prescription needs. This can be done for single vision as well as multifocal lenses. Furthermore it is possible to decenter the toric mold 60 withrespect to a centered multifocal zone on the prefo"" 10 to achieve proper multifocal decen~,a~ion. Finally once the toric mold 60 is properly aligned withlO respect to the preform 10 for astigmatic axis orientation astigmatic power coi~tion and near point multifocal decent,ation the assembly containing the mold 60 resin 100 and prefo,lll 10 is cured by any appropriate means which will cure the resin layer 100 and bond the newly cured plastic toric layer 30 to the prefor", 10.
The following example illustrates the method of the present invention and various embodiments thereof.
EXAMPLE: A spherical multifocal prefor", 10 having a distance spherical power of +2.00D and a near add power of +2.00D is mounted concave side up in a tray equipped with a prolraclor. Liquid poly",eri able resin 100 is20 deposited on to the concave surface 20 of the lens p. eform 10. Two pieces offlexible metallized tape 110 (of thickness approximately 0.15 mm) are placed at opposite ends of a diameter of the toric mold 60 to be used each pieoe of tape 110 protruding about 1.00 mm on to the mold casting surface. The mold 60 has a toric surface 90 on the convex side a base curvature of 4.00D and 25 a toric curvature of 2.00D. The mold 60 with the two pieces of tape 110 attached is placed convex surfaoe down into the resin deposit 100 allowing the resin to spread out and fill the space between the mold 60 and the lens preform 10. The toric axis is set to 35 degrees with the help of the prot, actor. The mold assembly is placed in the photocuring oven, and subjected to both visible as well as ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of about 330-500 nm and a simultaneous temperature ramp which starts at about 1 00~F and ends at about 200~F over a period of approximately 16 minutes. The lens is demolded, and annealed by immersing it in water at about 200~F for approximately 2 minutes.
The power of the lens, as read on a lensometer at the optical center, was OS
+1.95D, -2.05D X35, Add 1 95D.
Claims (17)
1. An optical preform for an astigmatic multifocal lens wherein the optical preform includes a predetermined distance spherical prescription and a multifocal section and wherein a concave side of the optical preform has a nontoric curve.
2. The optical preform of claim 1, wherein the concave side of the optical preform has a spherical curve.
3. An optical preform for an astigmatic lens wherein the optical preform has a nontoric convex surface and a nontoric concave surface and wherein the optical preform includes a predetermined distance spherical prescription.
4. An optical preform for an astigmatic multifocal lens wherein the optical preform has a nontoric convex surface and a nontoric concave surface, and wherein the optical preform includes a predetermined distance spherical prescription.
5. The optical preform of claim 4 wherein the predetermined distance spherical prescription of the optical preform is within about ~0.12D of a desired distance spherical lens prescription.
6. An astigmatic multifocal lens comprising:
an optical preform having a predetermined distance spherical prescription and a multifocal section, wherein a concave side of the optical preform has a nontoric curve; and a polymerized resin layer directly bonded to the concave surface of the optical preform to form a toric layer.
an optical preform having a predetermined distance spherical prescription and a multifocal section, wherein a concave side of the optical preform has a nontoric curve; and a polymerized resin layer directly bonded to the concave surface of the optical preform to form a toric layer.
7. The astigmatic multifocal lens of claim 6 wherein the concave side of the optical preform has a spherical curve.
8. An astigmatic multifocal lens, comprising:
an optical preform having a multifocal section, wherein the optical preform has a predetermined distance spherical prescription component, and a polymerized resin layer directly bonded to a concave surface of the optical preform, wherein the resin layer is toric and provides a predetermined astigmatic prescription component.
an optical preform having a multifocal section, wherein the optical preform has a predetermined distance spherical prescription component, and a polymerized resin layer directly bonded to a concave surface of the optical preform, wherein the resin layer is toric and provides a predetermined astigmatic prescription component.
9. The astigmatic multifocal lens of claim 8, wherein the distance spherical prescription component of the optical preform is within about ~0.12D
of a desired distance spherical lens prescription.
of a desired distance spherical lens prescription.
10. A method of making an astigmatic multifocai lens comprising the steps of:
providing a preform having a predetermined distance spherical prescription and a multifocal section wherein a concave side of the optical preform has a nontoric curve;
providing a preform having a predetermined distance spherical prescription and a multifocal section wherein a concave side of the optical preform has a nontoric curve;
11 applying a resin layer on the concave surface of the optical preform to form a toric layer; and curing the resin to form an astigmatic multifocal lens.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the concave side of the optical preform has a spherical curve.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the concave side of the optical preform has a spherical curve.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the resin is photocurable.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of molding the resin layer with a toric mold having a base curve which aligns within about ~0.12D with the concave curve of the preform.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of decentering the optical preform with respect to the toric mold while maintainiing a horizontal alignment of the curves of the optical preform and the toric mold.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the resin is cured by subjecting the optical preform, resin layer and toric mold to visible and ultraviolet radiation.
16. A method of making an astigmatic multifocal lens, comprising the steps of:
providing an optical preform having a multifocal section, wherein the optical preform has a predetermined distance spherical prescription component;
applying a resin layer to a concave surface of the optical preform to form a toric layer; and curing the resin layer to form an astigmatic multifocal lens, wherein the cured resin layer provides an astigmatic prescription component.
providing an optical preform having a multifocal section, wherein the optical preform has a predetermined distance spherical prescription component;
applying a resin layer to a concave surface of the optical preform to form a toric layer; and curing the resin layer to form an astigmatic multifocal lens, wherein the cured resin layer provides an astigmatic prescription component.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the distance spherical prescription component of the optical preform is within about ~0.12D of a desired distance spherical lens prescription.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/728,249 | 1996-10-08 | ||
| US08/728,249 US5793465A (en) | 1996-10-08 | 1996-10-08 | Toric surfacecasting |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2217274A1 true CA2217274A1 (en) | 1998-04-08 |
Family
ID=24926050
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002217274A Abandoned CA2217274A1 (en) | 1996-10-08 | 1997-10-03 | Toric surfacecasting |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5793465A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0836110A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10202761A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU716357B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2217274A1 (en) |
| SG (1) | SG71725A1 (en) |
| TW (1) | TW360592B (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3862446B2 (en) | 1998-10-02 | 2006-12-27 | キヤノン株式会社 | Imaging lens and image reading apparatus using the same |
| US6149271A (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-11-21 | Innotech, Inc. | Progressive addition lenses |
| US6139148A (en) | 1999-02-04 | 2000-10-31 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Progressive addition lenses having regressive surfaces |
| WO2000067051A1 (en) * | 1999-04-28 | 2000-11-09 | Asahi Lite Optical Co., Ltd. | Plastic lens and its processing method |
| IL132466A (en) * | 1999-05-20 | 2002-09-12 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care | Methods for producing progressive addition lenses |
| US6612697B1 (en) | 2001-02-01 | 2003-09-02 | Aura Lens Products, Inc. | Protective eyewear lens |
| US6923540B2 (en) * | 2002-07-31 | 2005-08-02 | Novartis Ag | Toric multifocal contact lenses |
| US20040145701A1 (en) * | 2003-01-29 | 2004-07-29 | Robert Miniutti | Solid color eyewear lenses |
| US20040145802A1 (en) * | 2003-01-29 | 2004-07-29 | Robert Miniutti | Infrared filtering optical lenses and methods of manufacturing |
| US7004583B2 (en) * | 2003-01-29 | 2006-02-28 | East Bay Technologies | Eyewear lenses and methods of manufacturing |
| AR062067A1 (en) | 2006-07-17 | 2008-10-15 | Novartis Ag | TORICAS CONTACT LENSES WITH CONTROLLED OPTICAL POWER PROFILE |
| US9733493B2 (en) * | 2014-08-29 | 2017-08-15 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Lens system for presbyopes with inter-eye vision disparity limits |
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| US4190621A (en) * | 1977-03-10 | 1980-02-26 | Martin Greshes | Method for molding optical plastic lenses of the standard and bifocal type |
| US4474355A (en) * | 1977-06-27 | 1984-10-02 | Martin Greshes | Apparatus for molding optical plastic lenses of the standard and bifocal type |
| US4645317B1 (en) * | 1983-02-22 | 1991-04-23 | Eyeglass lens modules and method | |
| US5415816A (en) * | 1986-01-28 | 1995-05-16 | Q2100, Inc. | Method for the production of plastic lenses |
| AU8055687A (en) * | 1986-12-01 | 1988-06-02 | Sola International Holdings Ltd | Polymeric ophthalmic lens preparation process and lens production process |
| US5028358A (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1991-07-02 | Blum Ronald D | Method for molding and curing plastic lenses |
| US5147585A (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1992-09-15 | Blum Ronald D | Method for forming plastic optical quality spectacle lenses |
| US5178800A (en) * | 1990-10-10 | 1993-01-12 | Innotech, Inc. | Method for forming plastic optical quality spectacle lenses |
| US4873029A (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1989-10-10 | Blum Ronald D | Method for manufacturing lenses |
| US5219497A (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1993-06-15 | Innotech, Inc. | Method for manufacturing lenses using thin coatings |
| US4892403A (en) * | 1988-08-19 | 1990-01-09 | Opticast International Corporation | Composite plastic lens and method of making the same |
| US5020898A (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1991-06-04 | Schering Corporation | Contact lens for correction of astigmatism |
| US5066431A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1991-11-19 | Briggs Charles R | Method of making toric contact lenses |
| US5125729A (en) * | 1991-05-03 | 1992-06-30 | Les Laboratoires Opti-Centre Inc. | Multifocal contact lens |
| GB9125480D0 (en) * | 1991-11-29 | 1992-01-29 | Pilkington Visioncare Holdings | Polymeric bifocal lens production process |
| JPH07508937A (en) * | 1992-04-15 | 1995-10-05 | ２シー オプティックス， インコーポレイテッド | Lenses with high impact resistance and high scratch resistance |
| TW210380B (en) * | 1992-04-23 | 1993-08-01 | Ciba Geigy Ag | |
| US5470892A (en) * | 1992-05-01 | 1995-11-28 | Innotech, Inc. | Polymerizable resin for forming clear, hard plastics |
| US5288221A (en) * | 1992-05-18 | 1994-02-22 | Essilor Of America, Inc. | Apparatus for making ophthalmic lenses |
| US5358672A (en) * | 1992-06-08 | 1994-10-25 | Innotech, Inc. | Method for removing finished articles from glass, plastic or metallic molds |
| US5316702A (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1994-05-31 | Innotech, Inc. | Method of producing durable bonds between an optical preform and an optical resin layer cast on the preform surface |
| US5406341A (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1995-04-11 | Innotech, Inc. | Toric single vision, spherical or aspheric bifocal, multifocal or progressive contact lenses and method of manufacturing |
| US5480600A (en) * | 1993-03-24 | 1996-01-02 | Innotech, Inc. | Method for manufacturing thin progressive addition lenses |
| US5531940A (en) * | 1993-12-10 | 1996-07-02 | Innotech, Inc. | Method for manufacturing photochromic lenses |
| US5512371A (en) * | 1994-03-18 | 1996-04-30 | Innotech, Inc. | Composite lenses |
| US5650837A (en) * | 1995-05-04 | 1997-07-22 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. | Rotationally stable contact lens designs |
-
1996
- 1996-10-08 US US08/728,249 patent/US5793465A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-10-03 CA CA002217274A patent/CA2217274A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-10-07 EP EP97307966A patent/EP0836110A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-10-07 SG SG1997003679A patent/SG71725A1/en unknown
- 1997-10-07 AU AU39968/97A patent/AU716357B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-10-08 JP JP9290512A patent/JPH10202761A/en active Pending
- 1997-11-28 TW TW086114911A patent/TW360592B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0836110A3 (en) | 1999-04-21 |
| JPH10202761A (en) | 1998-08-04 |
| TW360592B (en) | 1999-06-11 |
| US5793465A (en) | 1998-08-11 |
| AU3996897A (en) | 1998-04-23 |
| AU716357B2 (en) | 2000-02-24 |
| EP0836110A2 (en) | 1998-04-15 |
| MX9707740A (en) | 1998-06-30 |
| SG71725A1 (en) | 2000-04-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |